Former All-star Catcher Dies

Sports Buzz

August 7, 2002

Former all-star catcher Darrell Porter, the Most Valuable Player of the 1982 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, was found dead in a park in suburban Kansas City, Mo. He was 50. Porter was found Monday next to his car in La Benite Park. An autopsy was conducted Tuesday but the cause and manner of death was not available, pending further investigation and lab work, Jackson County medical examiner Dr. Thomas Young said. He said there was no indication of foul play. Herb Soule, chief of the suburban Sugar Creek police department, said Porter's car went off the right side of the road in the park and got caught on a tree stump. In 17 big-league seasons he hit .247 with 188 home runs and 826 RBIs.

RUSSIAN MOBSTER WILL FIGHT EXTRADITION

In a move that could add weeks of legal wrangling to an already complex case, a reputed Russian mobster charged with trying to fix two Olympic figure skating events will fight extradition to the United States. Alimzhan Tokhtakhunov said "no" Tuesday when asked at a closed hearing in Santa Maria Maggiore prison in Venice, Italy, if he would consent to extradition, according to Judge Giannicolo Rodighiero. By refusing voluntary extradition, Tokhtakhounov is guaranteed a lengthy series of legal procedures. Defense lawyer Luca Saldarelli said he asked the court to release Tokhtakhunov to house arrest, and the judge promised a ruling within a few days. The United States must file a request for extradition within 40 days of Tokhtakhunov's July 31 arrest. No U.S. demand had arrived by Tuesday, Rodighiero said.

HENNINGER, MCCARRON WIN FRED MEYER CHALLENGE

Brian Henninger and Scott McCarron combined to shoot a final-round 62 and won the Fred Meyer Challenge in Aloha, Ore., by two strokes over Stewart Cink and David Toms. Henninger, who cut his hand Monday night while closing a candy jar, and McCarron finished the two-day event at 22-under 122. Cink and Toms had a 61 in the best-ball event and finished two strokes in front of three teams, including Jack Nicklaus and his son Gary Nicklaus.

MAGIC NAME HUDSON TEAM'S PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Vinnie Hudson, who has been overseeing Grant Hill's rehabilitation from three ankle surgeries, was named the Orlando Magic's physical therapist. Hudson has served as a program director of sports medicine at UCF since 1997. Hudson has worked as a consultant with several professional and collegiate programs, including the Philadelphia Phillies, the Atlanta Falcons, the University of Florida and Rutgers University.

JUDGE DISMISSES FORMER 'BAMA QB'S BAD CHECK CHARGES

A judge in Bessemer, Ala., dismissed bad check charges against former Alabama quarterback Brian Burgdorf on Monday after deciding he did not criminally intend to write the checks. Burgdorf, 29, was arrested in July after he failed to appear in court to face charges that he wrote bad checks, including one for $15,000. But Burgdorf still faces a similar bad check case in Birmingham that is pending, and he was named in a civil suit that accuses him and two others of running an investment scam.

GOLF GOVERNING BODIES SCRAP PLANS FOR `HOT DRIVERS'

In a surprising reversal, golf's two governing bodies scrapped plans to allow recreational players in the United States to use so-called hot drivers, designed to hit the ball farther. The modified policy means Americans cannot use the thin-faced drivers in club tournaments or to post a score for their handicap index. The plan that was to take effect Jan. 1 would have allowed average U.S. players to use the hot drivers until 2008.

HEWITT FINED FOR REFUSING INTERVIEW

Upset at being fined for refusing a pretournament interview, No. 1 seed Lleyton Hewitt considered forfeiting his first-round match in the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati, then won 6-0, 6-0. The Wimbledon champion beat Robby Ginepri, then lashed out at the ATP for fining him a minimum of $20,000. The ATP said Hewitt will be fined either $20,000 or half of his prize money from the tournament -- whichever is larger -- for refusing to do an interview with ESPN, which is broadcasting the event. The $2.95 million tournament has a top prize of $392,000. Michael Chang, Andy Roddick and Pete Sampras also advanced while defending champion Gustavo Kuerten lost.